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Mark Sanchez on his way to the NFL, or not

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That earlier ESPN report that said Mark Sanchez was headed to the NFL didn’t last long before it changed. The latest headline is that Nick Sanchez, the quarterback’s father, says his son hasn’t made up his mind.

So goes the saga of a quarterback in agony.

Some people close to Sanchez say he does, indeed, want to turn pro. And if he were to make the decision today, a day before he has to, it would be to leave USC for the NFL.

But his announcement is being made tomorrow morning -- and a very good salesman is likely to try to coax a change of heart in the meantime. That salesman?

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USC Coach Pete Carroll, who managed to turn a similar tide not too many seasons ago when it was Matt Leinart making the call. (Note to Carroll: Was it really a good idea to be vacationing in Hawaii while your top two players -- Sanchez and All-American safety Taylor Mays -- were making their NFL decisions?)

There seems to be little doubt that Sanchez would benefit from another year of college football -- he’s only been the full-time starter one season. But if he goes this year, it’s just him and Georgia’s Matt Stafford at the top of the quarterback heap. If he stays, he’ll probably end up going out with Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford, Texas’ Colt McCoy and Florida’s Tim Tebow.

It’s a tough call to make -- something Sanchez had better get used to.

-- Mike Hiserman

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